128: Open the kiln and eat chicken

As the firewood pile ignited, the kiln began to heat up.

Listening to the crackling of the burning firewood, the two men, hiding indoors with the air conditioning on, still felt incredibly hot.

Fortunately, firing the kiln didn't take too long.

After about an hour and a half, the kiln bricks were glowing red, estimated to be at least 300℃ or more.

"That's about right."

Lu Chuan stood up and brought the mud balls, each wrapped around a lotus leaf chicken, to the front of the kiln.

He then grabbed a long stick, poked the top of the kiln, and seeing the stick sizzle with fire, immediately turned to He Jingrui and shouted:

"Quick, pass all the mud balls in!"

Upon hearing this, He Jingrui immediately followed Lu Chuan's previous instructions, picked up an iron shovel, precisely scooped up a mud ball, and skillfully tossed it in.

Once all the mud balls were inside, He Jingrui quickly shoveled the red-hot earth and charcoal from inside the kiln to cover them, then completely sealed the brick kiln.

Lu Chuan observed the entire kiln, and seeing no cracks or incomplete sealing, nodded with satisfaction.

"Very good, this brick kiln is very well built. We'll braise and roast it with residual heat for an hour and a half, just remember to add firewood to maintain the overall temperature during that time."

He Jingrui nodded repeatedly at his words, then moved a chair from indoors and prepared to stand guard by the brick kiln.

Lu Chuan, seeing this, shook his head speechlessly and pulled him back inside.

An hour and a half quickly passed.

Lu Chuan walked out of the house again, fanning himself while opening the kiln.

A burst of heat immediately escaped.

His clothes were instantly soaked with sweat.

"I'll do it!"

He Jingrui volunteered to step forward.

But once again, he was pulled back by Lu Chuan.

"The temperature inside the kiln hasn't dropped yet, what's the rush?"

Stared at by Lu Chuan, He Jingrui couldn't help but scratch his head, but looking at the mud balls inside the kiln, imagining the deliciousness hidden beneath, he couldn't help but swallow.

After an anxious wait, another half an hour passed.

Lu Chuan came to the kiln door, checked the temperature inside, and finally smiled with satisfaction.

He Jingrui could no longer hold back and immediately reached in with long tongs, pulling out a mud ball.

The mud ball had changed from its original dark brown to a golden yellow all over, a very pleasing color.

In addition, there was a fresh earthy scent mixed with the aroma of wine, permeating the summer afternoon.

"Gulp!"

Even before being opened, it was incredibly enticing, making He Jingrui swallow again.

This was Lu Chuan's first time making beggar's chicken, and he was very curious, so he said:

"Open it and see."

He Jingrui nodded repeatedly, immediately placed the mud ball on a clean marble slab, and then gently tapped it with a small hammer.

The mud ball, already baked to a crisp, had its outer mud shell peel off layer by layer under the external force.

The fresh scent of lotus leaves mixed with the rich, warm aroma of chicken meat immediately assailed them.

He Jingrui froze for a moment, then completely lost himself in the incredibly tempting aroma.

After a while, he came back to his senses, pointed at the steaming lotus leaf ball, and stared blankly at Lu Chuan.

"I think I saw it glowing!"

Lu Chuan took deep breaths of the refreshing and wonderful aroma, and hearing this, he couldn't help but roll his eyes at him.

"Glowing? Do you think this is a gourmet anime or a TV show?"

He Jingrui, however, insisted:

"When the golden mud shell on the outside peeled off, revealing the chicken wrapped in lotus leaves underneath, I really felt it was glowing! I'm sure I didn't see wrong!"

Lu Chuan looked at the lotus leaf ball in confusion, thought for a moment, and then understood why He Jingrui would have such an illusion.

He smiled.

"Let me tell you the story of beggar's chicken."

Under He Jingrui's gaze, he slowly recounted the story of beggar's chicken.

beggar's chicken, this famous Jiangnan dish full of martial arts charm, originated in Changshu, Jiangsu, and has a history of hundreds of years.

Its birth is closely linked to a widely circulated legend:

It is said that in early years, a hungry and cold beggar accidentally obtained a chicken, but had no cooking utensils or seasonings.

In desperation, he slaughtered and cleaned the chicken, wrapped the whole chicken in yellow mud, and roasted it over a fire.

When the mud shell cracked, the chicken feathers actually fell off with the mud, revealing tender and juicy chicken meat.

This "unintentional" cooking method unexpectedly created a unique flavor, which was later improved by restaurants and became a refined delicacy.

Folklore added an interesting anecdote—when Emperor Qianlong traveled incognito to Jiangnan, he praised this chicken endlessly after tasting it. The beggar, to conceal his identity, fabricated the name "Wealthy Chicken", and from then on, this dish became associated with the Emperor's "golden words", and its reputation spread far and wide.

"Under the ordinary mud ball, an astonishing delicacy is hidden. This contrast and disparity are unbelievable."

"That's why you had the illusion that it was glowing."

He Jingrui scratched his head.

"Is that so?"

Lu Chuan nodded.

"Alright, no more nonsense, let's taste it!"

He took out disposable gloves and put them on, then gently peeled off the outer lotus leaves, revealing the golden-brown, slightly charred whole chicken inside.

The chicken skin's oil seeped out during the roasting process, creating an alluring sheen under the light.

Then, a strange aroma suddenly spread through the air.

"Goo goo goo..."

Almost simultaneously, both their stomachs rumbled.

Lu Chuan could still exercise some restraint.

He Jingrui, however, once again entered a state of absent-mindedness, and saliva couldn't help but drip from the corners of his mouth.

"This is too fragrant!"

Lu Chuan exclaimed, then held the chicken and tore off a large chicken leg.

The moment the chicken meat was torn, tender juices overflowed, the meat was soft and not dry, and the aroma of the marinade and stuffing intertwined.

Lu Chuan was almost overwhelmed and lost in this even richer and purer aroma.

"Fragrant! So fragrant!"

He Jingrui next to him could no longer control the agitation of his Gourmet Cellss and immediately lunged forward.

Seeing this, Lu Chuan quickly stuffed the large chicken leg in his hand into his mouth.

"Hmm?"

With the deliciousness in his mouth, He Jingrui finally came back to his senses.

He quickly bit into the chicken leg, then, holding the leg, began to tear and chew heartily, eating until his mouth was oily, and constantly emitting satisfied grunts.

Lu Chuan watched He Jingrui's live eating broadcast, swallowing his saliva with great difficulty.

He simply turned around and strode into the kitchen.

After a while, when he came out again, he was holding a plate of sweet bean paste and finely sliced green onions.

He then tore off a piece of chicken, and began to eat it with the sweet bean paste and green onions.

As the delicious food entered his mouth, he vaguely heard the cells all over his body let out a satisfied sigh.

"Delicious! Indescribably delicious!"

Lu Chuan savored the crispy outside and tender inside of the chicken, with rich juices overflowing as he chewed, filling his mouth with fragrance.

And the sweet bean paste and green onions added a unique flavor experience.

"Amazing!"

Lu Chuan recalled the delicious dishes he had made in the past and found that in terms of deliciousness, the beggar's chicken in front of him was definitely far superior.

"Perhaps my cooking skills have improved, or perhaps it's the blessing of the Mind Bug ability! Now, my cooking skills are probably second to none, right?"

Lu Chuan thoughtfully stroked his chin, vaguely having an answer.